Dead key upon starting

[nhuyck]

Have a 2002 four winns 298 with twin VP 5.0 GXi with DP outdrives. Intermittently, when I try to fire the STB engine, I have a dead key. The fuel pump will initialize and the engine alarm will beep, but nothing when I go to fire the engine. Things that I have tried when it happens: jiggling the throttle to make sure it is neutral, check all connections on ignition switch, pulled apart throttle to check wires, Swap out relay with spare on engine fuse panel. All of the sudden out of the blue, it will fire up, completely randomly, and not linked to anything I try above. It happens very intermittently, probably three times so far this season, but once it forced me to limp home on one screw. 20 minutes after I docked, the darn thing started, without any pattern. Where should I start my diagnostics?

 

[dypcdiver]

Dodgy relay and or wiring. Check all the earth/ground points for cleanliness. If you have 2 engines swap the ignition switches and see if the fault follows the switch.

 

[2003lsr]

Check the safety kill switch wiring. Mine had tight connections, but when I moved the wiring it did the trick.

 

[bruceb58]

Check the safety kill switch wiring. Mine had tight connections, but when I moved the wiring it did the trick.

That won't prevent the starter from operating, only the ignition.

 

[2003lsr]

Ok, my mistake on the kill switch.

 

[alldodge]

Have a 2002 four winns 298 with twin VP 5.0 GXi with DP outdrives. Intermittently, when I try to fire the STB engine, I have a dead key. The fuel pump will initialize and the engine alarm will beep, but nothing when I go to fire the engine. Things that I have tried when it happens: jiggling the throttle to make sure it is neutral, check all connections on ignition switch, pulled apart throttle to check wires, Swap out relay with spare on engine fuse panel. All of the sudden out of the blue, it will fire up, completely randomly, and not linked to anything I try above. It happens very intermittently, probably three times so far this season, but once it forced me to limp home on one screw. 20 minutes after I docked, the darn thing started, without any pattern. Where should I start my diagnostics?

:welcome: to iboats

If others suggestion come up empty, suggest swapping the key switches to see if the trouble moves to the other engine. Also swap starter assist solenoid (slave solenoid).

Other wise when it does it again your going to need a voltmeter. Need to see if your getting voltage to your starter assist solenoid. Turn key to start and see if your getting 12V on the small post (one is ground and the other is from the key). The two large post, one will have 12V and other will go to starter solenoid on top of starter.

 

[nhuyck]

Update folks: This problem has been happening more frequently. Started intermittently, but is now happening often. I have been doing some testing and have eliminated the ignition switch, the neutral safety switch and the relays/fuses on the engine and the battery(s). All these are functioning correctly. This has become a real head scratcher. I turn the key on, and all the gauges come on and the fuel pump initializes, but turn the key to fire and nothing, not even a draw off the battery, or no click from the starter. Any thoughts?

PS There is no kill switch.

 

[Grub54891]

Check the main harness plug at the engine. Sometimes the pins are not tight enough. A jiggle test while someone turns the key will let ya know. When it happens,do not release the key from the start position,and have someone jiggle the harness.

 

[nhuyck]

I tried that to no avail.

 

[Bondo]

Update folks: This problem has been happening more frequently. Started intermittently, but is now happening often. I have been doing some testing and have eliminated the ignition switch, the neutral safety switch and the relays/fuses on the engine and the battery(s). All these are functioning correctly. This has become a real head scratcher. I turn the key on, and all the gauges come on and the fuel pump initializes, but turn the key to fire and nothing, not even a draw off the battery, or no click from the starter. Any thoughts?

PS There is no kill switch.

Ayuh,..... Welcome Aboard,..... All those things ya been Testin',..??..

Have you also removed, sanded, 'n cleaned to shiny metal clean, All the connections to all those things,..??

It sounds like a corroded ground to Me, maybe a power wire,.....

Start at the battery terminals, 'n do All the connections, Both ends of the wires, Grounds too,....

 

[nhuyck]

Man, I am completely stumped. I started at the battery cables (even though I paralleled them at the isolator switch first) and checked every connection. I pulled them off, checked for corrosion. Everything checked out ok. I still have a dead key. I have eliminated the following: Ignition switch, neutral safety switch, fuses/relays, grounding/wiring. Anybody have ANY thoughts on what I might be missing? Could it possibly be an ECM? Pretty close to biting the bullet and taking to V/P certified mechanic. Tough for me to do since I am fairly mechanically inclined and enjoy working on my own stuff.

 

[dypcdiver]

http://forums.iboats.com/filedata/fetch?id=7182868&d=1366915513

Please run through the above and let us know how you get on. Don't give up.

 

[Saline Marina]

I'd center on the relay in the diagram posted above. It neatly divides into two circuits, the "control side" with the key, neutral switch, and the relay coil + the "power side" which goes thru the starter solenoid.

So more or less see if that relay is clicking (contacts pulling in) when the key is turned, and use the presence or lack of that element to determine where to go next.

 

[nhuyck]

Thank you very much for that diagram. When I went to go through this diagram I decided to turn the key and see what would happen and voila, it cranked. I still went through the entire checklist, polishing and wire brushing connections as I went. I will now keep this checklist and proper diagnosis tools in my tool box. Thank you.